Elephants are hard to ignore and impossible to forget, yet their very existence hangs in the balance.

Unless something is done to save the Asian elephant, this majestic creature could be extinct in a matter of decades. This fact is true. Luckily for the Asian elephant there are people like you that want to make a difference and there are plenty of ways in which you can help. Here is a few ideas to get you started:

Sponsor one of our elephants. Sponsorship lasts one whole year and supports the health and wellbeing of your chosen elephant, as well as the future conservation action of ElefantAsia.

Become a dedicated fundraiser. Whether an individual or group, fundraising can be a fun and simple way to support a cause you are passionate about and what greater cause than the Asian elephant! Here are a few fundraising ideas to get you started: sponsored walk, bake sale, quiz night or non-uniform day at school/work, the list of things to do is endless.

Become a member of ElefantAsia. From as little as €20 you can make a difference and support the conservation of the endangered Asian elephant. Memberships are valid for one calendar year (1st January – 31st December)

Volunteer. ElefantAsia runs several eco-tourism volunteer opportunities available through the Elephant Conservation Center; please visit for further information.

Keep green. By making small and simple changes to our lifestyles, we can make a big difference to the future of our plant and the animals that we share it with. Visit www.dothegreenthing.com for some great tips on keeping it green.

Can you imagine a world without the Asian elephant? We can't, so please HELP us make a difference TODAY!

Founders

Leading experts in captive elephants in Southeast Asia, co-founders of ElefantAsia Sébastien Duffillot and Gilles Maurer are well respected by conservationists, governmental officials and elephant owners alike. Both are fluent in Lao language, an obvious advantage when implementing grassroots projects in remote areas of Laos.

Sébastien Duffillot has been living in Laos since 1996. He founded ElefantAsia with G. Maurer back in 2001 and has since then been fully committed to the cause of elephant conservation in Asia. He is happiest when found trekking in the jungle with the elephants or spending time surrounded by the elephants at the Conservation Center of Laos he co-founded. Sébastien is very much the creative arm of the organisation and is in his element when developing new projects or environmental awareness materials, in Laos and now in Myanmar.

Gilles Maurer has spent more than a decade living and working in Laos dedicating this time to the conservation of the Asian elephant. Although Gilles recently returned to France with his family to concentrate on further study, he remains an active and valued member of ElefantAsia and is in constant contact with our team.

Testimonials

I have known both Sebastien and Gilles since they first started ElefantAsia. I watched them, green and inexperienced, build something wonderful starting from nothing. Especially admirable is the balance they have kept, working closely with the highest levels of government but also learning the Lao language and establishing very close relationships with mahouts. One of ElefantAsia’s greatest achievements is providing the Lao PDR, always seen as a backwater, with Asia’s first — and to this point, only — fully functional, modern registration database.Member of the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AESG) and author of Gone Astray: The Care and Management of the Asian Elephant in Domesticity for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The Elephant In Thai Life (Asia Books), Elephant Care Manual for Mahouts and Camp Managers (FAO).

Richard C Lair

I first met Sebastien & Gilles many years ago, after they had completed their epic "Caravan Xang" & before they had much idea what shape Elefantasia would take as a Charity. Since then, through their dedication and hard work, sensible cooperation with other Foundations and intimate cooperation with the Laos Government, Elefantasia has established itself as the only organisation I would trust when looking for ways to help Laos' captive elephants or as partners in cross boundary projects.Director of Elephants at Anantara Golden Triangle's on-site Elephant Camp